The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-18
Countess narODa.
By WILKIE COLLINS
CHAPTER XXI.

~
had taken the first dress that lay upierinu~'
In the trunk and had thrown her ''"Veiins
costume on the bed. she now opencu 'oc
doors Of the wardrobe for the nrst TIME ana
began TO bang her dresses on the BOOKS u" 'N
large compartment on one side
af,ar few minutes only Of this occupation
Che grew weary Of II and decided on leaving
the trunks as they were until the next morn
inc The oppressive south wind when had
blown Throughout, the day still prevailed nj
night The atmosphere Of the room feit
clos. Agnes threw o shawl over her head aud
shoulders. and opening the window stepped
into the balcony 90 look at the view.
The night was heavy and overcast rothing
could be distinctly seen.
Leaning ON the paraIei Of the balcony,
Agnes looked vacantly into the black void
teneath. Her thoughts reverted TO the ms
cradle man who had broken his pledged iaith
10 her and who had died IN that house Some
change seemed 10 have come over her since
her arrival in Venice, some new influence
appeared TO be at work For the first time
in her experience Of herself compassion
and regret. were not the only emo
tons aroused in her by the remembrance
Of the dead Moutbarry, A keen sense OF the
wrong that she had suffered, never YET feu
by that gentle and forgiving nature, was felt
by il now. She found herself thinking oi the
Nv gone DAYS Of her humiliation almost as
harshly as Henry weStwick had thought OF
them-she who had rebuked him the last time
ne had spoken slightingly Of his brother IN
her presence A sudden fear and doubt Of
herself startled her physically as well as
morally Sheiurned from the shadowy abyss
NJ the dark water. as II the mystery and the
Gloom Of il had been answerahle for the emo
tions which had taken her by surprise
Abruptly closing the window, She threw aside
her shawl and liz the candles on the mante-
niece. inlpoNed hv q sudden craving for light
in the solitude Of her room
The cheering hrightnes, round hey contrast
ing with the black gloom outside. restored her
spirits She felt herself enjoying the light
like a child,
Would it be well she asked herself 90 80
ready for bed, 80. The sense Of drovsy
fatigue that she had felt bali an hour since
was going. She returned 20 the dull employ
meni Of unpacking her boxes After q few
minutes only the occupation became irksome
to her once more She sat down by the table
and took up guide book Suppose ] inform
myself" she thought. ION the subject II
Venicos
Her attention wandered from the book he
fore she had turned the first page of II.
The image Of Henry Westwick was the
present image in her memory now. Recalling
the minutest incidents and details Of the eve
ming. she could think of nothing which pre-
sented him under other than a favorable and
interesting aspect She smiled 60 herself
softly. her color rose by fine graduation as she
felt tue full luxury Of dwelling on the per
feet truth and modesty Of bis devotion % her.
Was the depression Of spirits from which She
had suffered so persistenily ON her travels at
tributable, by any chance 10 their long sepa-
ration from each other-imhittered. perhaps
by her own vain regret when she remembered
her rash reception of him M farisi Suddenly
conscious Of this bold question and Of the self
abandonment which it implied, she returned
mechanically 10 her book. startled by the un-
restrained liberty Of her own thoughts What
lurking temptations 10 forbidden tenderness
find their hiding places IN womans dressing
gown, when She Is alone IN herro0m az night
With her heart IN the tomb Of the dead Mont
barry, could Agnes even think Of another
man and think Of love, How shameful how
unworthy Of her, For the second time She
tried To interest herself IN the guide book
and once more she tried m vain. Throwing
the book aside she turned desperately 10 the
one resource that was leit..i. her luggage
resolved 20 fatigue herself without mercy
until Sue was weary enough and sleepy enough
60 fluid safe refuge in bed
For some little time she persisted in the
mOnotonous occupation Of transferring her
clothes from tie trunk 10 the wardrobe. The
large clock in the hall, striking midnight, re-
minded her that IL was getting late. She SAT
down for a moment IN an arm chair 10y The
bedside to rest.
The silence IN the house now caught her
attention and held it-held II disagreenbly.
Was every body IN led and asleep but herself'
Surely it was time for her 20 follow the gen
eral example, With certain irritable,
nervous haste she rose and again undressed
herself IL have lost two hour Of rest, she
thought. frownng at the reflection Of herself
In the glass a. she arranged her hair for the
wight. 90 shall he good for nothing to-mor
row.
She lit the night light and esilnguished the
candles-with one exception, which she re
moved = little table placed on 'he side of
the bed opposite to the side occupied by the
arm chair Having put her travelling box OF
matches and the guide book near the candle
in case she r,ight be sleepless and might want
to read, she blew out the light and LAID her
head on the pillow.
The curtains Of the bed were loopei back
10 let the air pos freely over her Lying on
her left side. with her face turned away from
the table. she cNuld see the arm chair by the
dim night light II had a chintz covering
representing laI - punches 81 roses scattered
over pale grsn ground She tried %
weary herself into drowsiness by counting
over and over again the 5unches Of roses that
were visible from her point Of view. Twice
her attention was distracted from The count
ing by sounds outside-by the clock Ginning
the half hour past 10; and then again by the
fall Of pair Of boots on the upper floor
thrown out 20 be cleaned and with that bar
Larous disregard Of the comfort Of Others
which is observable in humanity when II in-
habits an hotel In The silence that followed
these passing disturbances Agncs went on
counting the roses on the arm chair more and
more slowly Before long She confused her
self in the hgureS-tued 20 begin counting